Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Containership Towed to Dun Laoghaire Harbour Following Passage from Carlingford Lough

16th November 2021
Containership Anna G is towed by a pair of tugs when arriving in Dublin Bay yesterday following a passage from Warrenpoint, Carlingford Lough to Dun Laoghaire Harbour.  Note ahead of Mourne Venture off the bow, a Dublin Port pilot cutter. Containership Anna G is towed by a pair of tugs when arriving in Dublin Bay yesterday following a passage from Warrenpoint, Carlingford Lough to Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Note ahead of Mourne Venture off the bow, a Dublin Port pilot cutter. Credit: Afloat.ie

An ususal sight took place in Dublin Bay, as a containership under tow by a pair of tugs arrived into Dun Laoghaire Harbour yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The feeder containership Anna G was observed by Afloat off the Howth Peninsula having made the passage under tow of Mourne Venture. The veteran tug, built forty years ago and based in Warrenpoint Port is also from where the 27 year old containership had originated.

The towing operation off the east coast took only several hours to complete.

As for the 515 TEU capacity containers's call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, this can be explained as according to the port operator, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council commented that the Anna G will undergo engine repairs for the next few days.

Prior to the Anna G's arrival in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the containership and tug circled off the Nose of Howth to await a pilot to be dispatched to the vessel from a Dublin Port pilot cutter.

The feeder containership Anna G alongside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: AfloatThe feeder containership Anna G alongside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour Photo: Afloat

On completion of transferring a pilot on board the containership which was also assisted by Giano. This is the sole privately operated tug based in Dublin Port and which took up a position off the ship's stern.

Anna G was towed alongside of Dun Laoghaire Harbour's St. Michaels Pier (Berth No. 4) where this quayside has for several years been used by a variety of vessels. Among the uses for such callers has included winter lay-over periods.

Such adhoc activity of commercial shipping follows that of the harbour's historic daily fast-ferry link to Holyhead, however the link to north Wales ceased when operator Stena Line pulled the plug. This saw the final HSS Stena Explorer sailing that took place in the Autumn of 2014.

It was not however until early in the following year that Stena Line officially announced that they would not resume the service but in favour to consolidating existing operations out of Dublin Port.

Such services, initially freight began in 1995 between the capital and to the port in Anglesea.

Published in Dublin Bay
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

Email The Author

Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020